NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 11, 2024
The Panthers take a 2-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final, the Stars’ Jim Nill is GM of the Year, the Hurricanes are poised to name their new general manager, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAP
NHL.COM: The Florida Panthers took a 2-0 lead in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final with a 4-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 2. Evan Rodrigues scored twice as the Panthers tallied three unanswered third-period goals and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 18 shots for the win.
Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm opened the scoring in the first period with his club’s first goal of the series. Connor McDavid collected an assist for his first Stanley Cup Final point. However, the Panthers tied it in the second on a goal by Niko Mikkola, setting the stage for Rodrigues’ third-period output. Aaron Ekblad tallied into an empty net late in the third to put it out of reach.
Florida Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues (NHL Images).
The series shifts to Edmonton for the next two games with Game 3 on Thursday, June 13, at 8 pm EDT.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Edmonton outplayed Florida in Game 1 and deserved to win but were shut out by Bobrovsky. They deserved to lose Game 2 as the Panthers’ stingy defense and physical play limited the Oilers to seven shots on goal through the first two periods and no high-danger scoring chances throughout the game. Florida’s penalty-killing snuffed out Edmonton’s vaunted power play in both contests.
The Oilers’ top scorers have yet to find the back of the net in this series. Their frustration was evident in the third period when Leon Draisaitl left his feet to nail Aleksander Barkov with a high hit that forced the Panthers captain from the game and into concussion protocol. Draisaitl received a minor penalty on the play. Panthers head coach Paul Maurice had no update on Barkov’s condition following the game.
Edmonton winger Warren Foegele received a major penalty and a game misconduct midway through the first period for kneeing Eetu Luostarinen. The Panthers forward was helped from the ice but later returned to the game. Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse suffered an undisclosed injury and was limited to three shifts over the final two periods. The Oilers also scratched defenseman Cody Ceci, replacing him with Vincent Desharnais.
Some Edmonton observers took issue with some questionable officiating in this game. Nevertheless, the Panthers were the better team in Game 2. Their victory was well-deserved, leaving the Oilers looking for answers as they wing their way home to Edmonton.
IN OTHER NEWS…
NHL.COM: Jim Nill of the Dallas Stars won the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award. It’s the second straight year that Nill has won this award. Under his management, the Stars finished first in the Western Conference with 113 points, one point behind the Presidents’ Trophy-winning New York Rangers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nill and New York Islanders’ Lou Lamoriello are the only two-time winners of this award. Lamoriello also won it in consecutive years (2020 and 2021).
SPORTSNET: The Carolina Hurricanes will name Eric Tulsky as their new general manager. Tulsky was made interim GM after Don Waddell stepped down on May 24. He’d served as assistant GM since 2020.
TSN: Matt Duchene remains keen to return to Dallas next season. The 33-year-old forward is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 after completing a one-year, $3-million contract. As the free-agent market approaches, Duchene said money was not a motivating factor for him.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Duchene will continue to receive $1.55 million annually through 2028-29 from the Nashville Predators after buying out his contract last summer. Nevertheless, he genuinely enjoyed his time in Dallas. The Stars have just over $16 million in cap space for next season but Duchene could accept another cost-effective contract to return next season.
THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks have added Jason Krog as a skills and skating coach. He’ll work with the big club and their AHL affiliate in Abbotsford.
CBC.CA: Team Canada star and Olympic gold medalist Sarah Fillier was chosen first overall by New York in the 2024 PWHL Draft. Edmonton’s Danielle Serdachny was taken second overall by Ottawa.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow this link for the complete list of picks in the 2024 PWHL Draft.
Just out of curiosity, Lyle, any idea as to how the PWHL teams deal with the overflow of their picks as the seasons progress?
I gather there is no “minor league” structure so, when this new crop report to camps for next season and the teams finalize their rosters, where do the “cuts” go?
And how do the teams deal with injury replacements during a season?
https://thehockeynews.com/news/is-expansion-a-solution-for-pwhls-overflowing-draft-pool
Expansion from “the original 6” will certainly take care of any overflow of talent, but surely they can’t be considering national teams and university teams as “farm teams.”
At some point, if the league continues to be a success and more and more players become available for the pros as interest grows, they are going to have to start looking at their own version of the AHL.
George the issue will come down to money, as it always does, and that would be a problem. I’m not sure a minor league system would work for the PWHL. Fans won’t be rushing to watch minor league women’s hockey, nor will there be any media and TV money. So it won’t be cost effective. Players would be paid less than peanuts. Hopefully, the PWHL will grow the women’s game to the point where a minor league system will work some time down the road.
While that makes perfect sense, Howard, fans of the 6 teams – and more if they expand – won’t be happy to see their team sink to the bottom simply because they have no adequate – and immediate – replacements for injuries – which is going to be the case.
I should add that, one of THE most important features of a farm system is that players there are playing the same system as the parent team so that when someone is called up, they know what’s expected of them in situations.
Of all the defensemen playing in the series Forsling has been the best!Great signing by Fla. at the time! You think Pittsburgh regrets letting Rodrigues go?Two great under the radar signings by Zito!
Yeah, but as we keep hearing “the kids are on the way” including one who is “tearing up a Swedish league.” Like that is an indication of anything certain.
I wish I had 1/100th of the faith in 1st rounders that others have in 2nd-7th rounders.
One kappo will do that to a guy. 😁
Kakko had been an all star compared to other 1st rounders. Including some of NY own recent ones. He’s far from a disappointment. His development path has been brutal.
Look no further than O’Connor. He’s a year away from being a UFA, and finally had a decent season at 25. Now 26 with 50 points in 157 games. 33 coming this year. Not very different than kakko, 300 gp, 117 points, but Kakko is also 3 years younger.
Poulin is the same age as Kakko, 6gp 1 point.
Sometimes it takes longer, sometimes it isn’t there at all.
It’s a coin flip, almost literally. 2nd-7th much much less than a coin flip.
I thought that the Avalanche should have offered E-Rod a contract to Keep him after last year but what do I know. They could have signed him I believe to a reasonable deal at the time. He’s a smart hockey player & finding the back of the net@ the right time. Good for him!!!!
Wasn’t O’Conner a undrafted free agent?
He was, I thought he was a 1st round pick.
I think that about sums it up. A crap shoot. Except number one overall. Teams always Nail that one.
Now we’re hearing another familiar catch-phrase out of the befuddled Oilers — “we have to find a way to (fill in the blank)”
1 goal in 2 games with that kind of scoring power and vaunted pp completely neutralized does not bode well for Edmonton.
congrats to the only pundit to say it out loud. the star player on the Canadian team left his feet to deliver a headshot. He got a whopping 2min.Anyone want to hazzard a guess how that would have worked out for Marchand, or DeBrusk or maybe a not so star player? All I heard on the telecast were apologists trying to find ways to justify it or say they agreed and would have called it the same…. seriiusly that is the issue. Fans and players in any sport want consistency not Angel Hernandez or Brian Donnahy officials
Both Drait and Foegele both need to be suspended for a number of games.
Absolutely ridiculous that Drait only received 2 minutes.
Oh, but “it’s the finals” don’t you know Brian – we have to accept that 40% of the rule-book gets tossed with game 1 to ensure “the stars” remain in focus. ‘Twas ever thus. At least, that’s what we keep getting fed. Year after year after year.
Disagree with either guy being suspended.
Unless of course OEL gets suspended for his knee on knee shot last night, and Bennett for his last night. In all of these cases, there would not have been a knee on knee collision if the player did not move to the side to avoid the hit. Foegele did not stick his leg sideways much at all, more forward. Bennett sure did, and that POS has been running around cheap shotting guys all through the playoffs. So if we are talking intent to injure, there was none by Foegele. Bang bang reaction play, he got 5 because the guy was injured.
Sorry, because he stayed down with his face in his hands and then returned after the PP was over. Was he faking/cheating like FLA has also done all playoffs, who knows, he busted his leg last year, maybe it freaked him out, will give him the benefit of the doubt. But he was NOT injured. Not blaming the Refs, how would they know. But the Panthers are disrespecting you officials, all playoffs, maybe catch on?
I also didn’t think Draisaitl’s hit was worthy of a suspension or a major. Elbows tucked in, pushed into it at contact, Barkov was bent down a bit, head contact as well as shoulder. Penalty, yes, suspension major or fine, no.
I bet there have been 30-50 hits in the playoffs where the player accelerated/left feet at contact with a high hit. How many suspensions? Trouba was an elbow.
Yes it’s the playoffs, and yes it’s the finals, and that’s the way it is. Players know it, coaches know it. So change it now in the Finals?
Does anyone not think that the loosening of the rules benefits Florida more than Edmonton? Tkachuk sticks his stick through McDavids legs on a semi breakaway, nuthin’, and guys are hooked, held on most shifts. Just the way it is, and has been for my entire life.
Florida just dives way more, and is better at getting away with it. Bennett seems like the invisible man. Can’t stand that guy.
Play through it Oilers, do more of it yourself Oilers, or you will lose in 5.
I really, really, want Florida to lose. Almost more than any team in recent memory. Cheating, cheap, greasy, pricks. And the worst part is they’re playing great flippin’ playoff hockey.
Rant over, feel better.
Go Oil.
LOL Ray, how I wish I could have a reason to rant like that over similar playoff occurrences involving the Senators!
George, you should have heard my wife last night, and she hardly ever watches hockey. Both dogs left the room. I was trying to convince her that the Refs weren’t actually cheering for the Panthers.
She didn’t seem to agree with my theory of the dark arts of cheapo sh*t hockey, the playoffs, and why the Oil needed to do more of it themselves, and harder. They need to punish the Panthers, and have the guys to do it. Penalties be damned, they haven’t and won’t call them all.
Panthers did it to my Bruins this year as well as last year George, so already couldn’t stand a couple of those guys. Now doing it to the team where I live.
Pretty tired of those guys, to put it mildly.
I guess my rant wasn’t over. Don’t get me started!
But ray. We are told all the time how we would all love it if those players were on our team.
And you can be sure that, when the Penguins won the cup in 2009, Matt Cooke received as big a cheer as any on the team in the ensuing parade.
100% chrisms.
Which is why I am not arguing that the Panthers shouldn’t be doing it, it’s obviously effective. Still hate pricks like Bennett, and hated guys like him when I played. You have to give it back to them just as hard or harder.
Fire with fire. Plus the Oil are bigger and faster than Florida. I’m serious when I say punish them, Florida is definitely trying to hit with purpose to cause pain, full speed, fulltime.
I know there are some Nurse haters out there. Oil fans better hope he can play at 90-95%. When it comes to playing with speed and drilling guys, he is the Oil’s best D-man. It’s also why Foegele was in the lineup, and why they have Kane who hasn’t been able to even practice, so is a shell of himself.
Do not reign Draisaitl in. Big strong guy, get mad and get even. Vancouver was a bigger stronger team than Florida, Oil took it to them as the series went on.
Oil have injuries but if they don’t start to make this nasty, and deliver the nasty, Thursday, they will lose in 5 or less.
@ Ray Bark, as far as rants go. That was excellent!
Lo, i may not agree with it all.
You could also look back at game one and the hit Bennet put on McDavid, looked very similar to the hit he put on Marchand, but, Bennet missed McDavid with the slide punch.
This is why you’ll see more teams building and playing like the panthers. For every penalty they take, there is another 5 that could’ve been called. They are playing the average of the calls and it working to a T.
Until the system changes, why would the team change.
Caper, that last 2 sentences summarized much better than my 300 words, well done. Or poorly done by me?
Fred Shero theory from the early 70’s, I remember watching the Orr/Esposito led Bruins deal with the same thing. My formative Bruin fan years.
I’m having flippin’ flashbacks!
I’m sure he did George. But the pens are still the only team I’m aware of that tried to rehabilitate one of those types of players. Publicly called him out. Made him spend the offseason rehabbing his game. So there’s that.
I’m sure I was one of those people cheering him too. But I eventually grew tfu.
Edmonton played the game short 3 players: Foegele correctly ejected from the game, Nurse need injury and Kane who shouldn’t be in the lineup.
Does Foegele get any further suspension? No the 2 minute minor on Draisaitl was not the right call. That also should’ve been a 5 minute major and a game misconduct. Should also be reviewed and receive at the very least a 1 game suspension.
Outside of Bobrovsky; Barkov is Florida most important player, Florida losing him for any games changes the complexation of the game.
If the league is trying to protect their stars, then someone should tell them Barkov is one of them.
Jumping to make a hit, always greasy.
And very Ovechkin-like.
Far as I’m concerned, Fla is getting some of their own medicine. They are the biggest cheap shot team in the last several years. Not to mention all the garbage they do after the whistle. Eat it Panthers. They also could win several academy awards for their actions after they take any hit. Not sure why the officials are so blind to their act.
Past couple years would say biggest cheap shot team is the Rangers with Jacob Trouba.
Draisaitl, if anything, will get a slap on the wrist fine and play the next game. If they suspend him it might cause a riot like when Maurice Richard was suspended! 😉
Oil & Panthers
More Brutal Reffing last night from the Florida Zebras…..
1st, The Call on on Warren Foegele was wrong, 5 minutes and a game in the SC Final, it was a High Speed Collision ….❓
2nd, Then Sam Bennet dose the same thing he go’s after Bouchard knee…. and only gets 2.Mins whats going on here…..❓
3rd, When the Panther player shoots the puck out the Zone from behind the blue line into the stand’s Thats a 2 Minuite penalty All Year Long ….But not in the SC Final, ❓ heard ( questionable officiating ) from way to many sports reporters it was just Brutal.
Oilers big guns were not getting it done last night,
The Panthers were All Over McDavid slashing and chopping at him last night,
Spongbob was getting tested bye the Oilers d, Nice goal bye Elkholm, Bouchard needs to shoot the puck lots more to much passing….. The Oilers forwards need to step up and shoot way more and play more physical, Sam Carrick played well ….
After loosing Darnell Nurse (undisclosed injury) That did not help in the 1st period then the Oil played with 2 players short the rest of the gane 5, d & 11 forwards……😳
Here, here is a cyber Kleenex for you.
Chris Rooney should never be allowed to ref an oilers game. He makes sure they loose almost every game, check his record big D hit should be a suspension? No call by refs on play. Let’s huddle. Cant make a game time decision.Florida bench screaming. Ok penalty call. What an embarrassment to the nhl.
Bennet sucker punch on Marchand breaking his jaw, no suspension and you commenters want big d suspended for his hit. What a joke.
What is correct, and what is called and/or determined by refs or the Player Safety Commitee are two different things. People calling for a suspension for what is a suspension worthy action is not the joke, but decision to suspend or not suspend might be.
Elbow a guy in the face (intentional or not), and cause him to he out for the rest of the game if not more, he only has to serve 2 minutes and that’s that? Department of Player safety is a joke. Let’s actually punish players who go out and try to injure the other team. Even fining them a a couple bucks isn’t going to do much either. Suspend them a game and let’s see if they do it again when they’re down three games in the series.
When a brain-dead goon is in charge of player “safety” expectations should be low.
Some of the most fun reading today. guys, thanks!
BTW, Ray, I can’t stand that prick either. He needs his ticket punched on a daily basis.